In January 2025, the second edition of Polstjärnepriset Nordic Edition took place. Here is an overview of the fantastic week.
From 2-6 January, young musicians from all the Nordic countries gathered to learn and make music together. Not only the 20 competitors were there, but also 60 participants in the Polstjärnepriset course.
On the first day of the competition, eight of the most promising young soloists were selected by our Nordic jury to compete in the semifinals.
Apart from competing against each other, there was also space to make music together and have fun. On the evening of 4 January, some of the 80 musicians showed off their skills during a chamber concert in Folkets Hus. This was followed by a concert in Vänersborg Church where Dvorak’s 9th Symphony was performed by the Polstjärnepriset Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andreas van Tol. Pieces by Bartok and Hensel were also performed.
These four talented finalists performed their competition pieces together with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra during the final in the Gothenburg Concert Hall.
After the performances, the Nordic jury was tasked with making the difficult decision as to who would be the winner of Polstjärnepriset 2025. In the meantime, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra treated the audience to Dvorak’s Overture to Othello and the fourth movement of Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony together with the Polstjärnepriset Symphony Orchestra under conductor Andreas van Tol.
When the time came, Anna-Karin Larsson, chair of the jury, came on stage to announce the result. The winner of Polstjärnepriset 2025 is cellist Clara Yuna Friedensburg!
The jury’s motivation reads: “With an expressive and highly emotional vulnerability to her playing, Clara’s powerful yet passionate tone and phrasing offers the audience an intense and unforgettable experience.”
After the grand final, it was time to go to Stockholm for Polstjärnepriset’s own concert. The four finalists each performed a solo piece and the whole of Dvorak’s 9th Symphony was performed by the Polstjärnepriset Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andreas van Tol. Two different string orchestras with Polstjärnepriset participants performed Béla Bartók’s Divertimento for String Orchestra and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s Romanze from the String Quartet in E flat major.
